Astronauts sing: Ain't no shuttle when she's gone

The occasion: STS-135, the final flight of the space shuttle programme.

The entertainment: Bandella, a band made up chiefly of former shuttle astronauts.

Two nights ago, before Atlantis blasts into the sky for the last time, I found myself in a smoky Irish bar, being serenaded by astronauts.

It's not your usual night out, but then this isn't a usual week. I'm in Florida to witness the culmination of 30 years of shuttle flights, the final mission for space shuttle Atlantis. I'm not the only one, it seems like everyone is in town to wave goodbye.

As if being an astronaut wasn't impressive enough, Chris is also a great musician. Rattling through popular tunes such as Ain't no sunshine and Hallelujah,
he delights in introducing us to some Canadian classics too. I'm
sitting with John McBrine from the astronaut office and he smiles as the
band play Blue Nose by Stan Rogers, a tune Cady played for him on her flute whilst she was in space.

These guys don't just have talent, they've got stamina too. For three
hours we were treated to to a mix of acoustic renditions of Beatles,
Queen and Bill Withers tunes, topped off with a shuttle inspired number,
penned by Chris Hadfield's brother.

The atmosphere in the bar is like that at a wedding, old
friends and new greeting one another and enjoying being there, together.
There are astronauts, flight doctors, rocket manufacturers, family and
friends all mixed together. We're sharing beers, hugs, and
memories of the shuttle, and just for a moment, you could forget that
the very thing that's brought us all together this evening, a shuttle
launch, is going to be the last.

It's a leaving party for an old friend, but I don't think it's quite
sunk in that this old flying friend will be gone for good so soon.